The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-23
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

The Story of Craig Toiiiver's Last Fight
Briefly and Graphically Told.
MoREHEAD, KY, June 22-About $50 o'clock
this morning determined men to the number of
one hundred and sixty, all armed with Winches-
ter repeating rifles, came into Morehead under
charge of Sheriff Hogee. to serve warrant on
Craig Tolliver. charging him with false swearing
and issuing warrants for the arrest of the Logan
boys, killed several weeks ago. AS one of the
sheriffs posse was crossing the railroad near the
water tank. about fifty yards east of the
Cottage Hotel, and before any attempt
had been made to serve the warrant,
Craig Tolliver. who was near the hotel saw
him. and fired at him The man lodged behind
a pile of lumber, and Toliiver and his two
cousins Bud and Jay Tolliver, and Hiram
Cooper went into the hotel ard barricaded the
doors and windows. Then ths posse came mp
under cover of the brush behind the hotel and
Immediately opened fire upon the building The
house surrounded, but at something
of distance, as of the sheriff's men cared
to get within range of the deadly guns the Toll
livers knew so we'll how to use After the fir
ing had been Kept up for probably three-quarters
of hour, the Toliver men attempted to leave
the hotel aud the railroad to another
hotel on the opposite side. While making this
foolhardy attempt the notorious leader OF the
gang which has been such terror 10 Rowan
county fell to the ground pierced by four balls
from the deadly Winchesters of the ambushed
posse, two of the bullets going through has head
and two through his breast. The others got to
the opposite house; and fought the posse for
some time, but finding the place less secure than
they had expected, they made an attempt to re-
cross the railroad to their old position In this
they were unsuccessful. for all three OF them
fell riddied with rifle balls.
After ascertaining that no more resistance
would be offered the posse picked up the dead
and placed them on the floor of the porch
of the Cottage Hotel Investigation showed
that only of the sheriff's posse was wound
ed. and that was DR.. Brown, who received
ugly flesh wound in the thigh. The fighting
was kept Up for two hours During the firing
the utmost conservation prevailed among the
women and children. who ran from their houses
and rushed to the depot, hoping thereby
to escape the bullets. The passenger
train which is due here at
o'clock, was delayed for two and a half hours. on
account of the shooting. the fight began Just
as the engineer whsted for Morehead The
sheriff sent a detail of men to stop the train,
but the engineer, hearing the rapid firing.
brought the train to a staud-still before reach
ing the outskirts Of the town. After the fight
was over the engineer was permitted to run his
train into the depot when it was imme-
datey boarded by a number of the
sheriffs men. armed with Winchestars.
Ladies screamed, and few tainted. while
many of the men had business outside. The
posse, however carefully searched the train for
capped Catesby Tolliver. boy, and brother to
Craig had hole shot through the leg of his
pants
The posse was composed of the best men in
Rowan county. They appeared to be hard
working farmers, and were all sober, earnest
looking men, Everybody in Morehead seems
glad the Tollivers exterminated, and people
will now breathe easier.